View source for Confessions (Usher album)

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{{Infobox album
| name         = Confessions
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Usher (musician)|Usher]]
| cover        = Usher - Confessions album cover.png
| released     = March 23, 2004
| recorded     = 2003–2004
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]}}
| length       = {{ubl|60:30|77:22 (special edition)}}
| label        = [[Arista Records|Arista]]
| producer     = {{hlist|[[Jermaine Dupri]]|Destro Music|[[Lil' Jon]]|[[Rich Harrison]]|[[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]|[[Robin Thicke]]|[[Bryan-Michael Cox]]|[[Just Blaze]]|[[Dre & Vidal]]|[[The Avila Brothers|Bobby Ross Avila]]|[[Sounds of Blackness|James "Big Jim" Wright]]}}
| prev_title   = [[8701]]
| prev_year    = 2001
| next_title   = [[Here I Stand (Usher album)|Here I Stand]]
| next_year    = 2008
| misc         = {{Extra album cover
 | header  = Special edition cover
 | type    = studio
 | cover   = Usher-Confessions.jpg
 }}
  {{Singles
 | name        = Confessions
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Yeah! (Usher song)|Yeah!]]
 | single1date = January 27, 2004<ref>{{cite web | url=https://globalgrind.com/6380964/lil-jon-yeah-petey-pablo/#:~:text=Usher%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CYeah!%E2%80%9D%20came%20out%20Jan.%2010%2C%202004 | title=Lil Jon Reveals the Original "Yeah!" Beat Went to Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek" Instead | date=February 15, 2024 }}</ref>
 | single2     = [[Burn (Usher song)|Burn]]
 | single2date = March 21, 2004
 | single3     = [[Confessions Part II]]
 | single3date = June 1, 2004
 | single4     = [[My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)|My Boo]]
 | single4date = August 29, 2004<ref>[http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=8/29/2004&Format=1 "CHR/Top 40: Week Of: August 29, 2004,"] R&R: Going for Adds. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022001950/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=8%2F29%2F2004&Format=1 |date=October 22, 2013 }}</ref>
 | single5     = [[Caught Up (Usher song)|Caught Up]]
 | single5date = January 3, 2005<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1587|page=13|date=December 31, 2004}}</ref>
 }}
}}
'''''Confessions''''' is the fourth [[studio album]] by American singer [[Usher (musician)|Usher]]. It was released on March 23, 2004, by [[Arista Records]]. Recording sessions for the album took place from 2003 to 2004, with its production on the album being handled by his longtime collaborator [[Jermaine Dupri]], along with [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]] and [[Lil Jon]], among others. Primarily an [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] album, ''Confessions'' showcases Usher as a [[crooner]] through a mixture of [[ballads]] and [[Glossary of musical terminology#U|up-tempos]], incorporating musical genres of [[Dance-pop#2000s|dance-pop]], [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], and [[crunk]]. The album's themes generated controversy about Usher's personal relationships. However, the album's primary producer Jermaine Dupri claimed the album reflects Dupri's own personal story.

In the United States, the album sold 1.1 million copies in its first week. To boost sales amid threats of [[Bootleg recording|bootlegging]], the special edition for the album was issued, in which includes the single, "[[My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)|My Boo]]" (a duet with [[Alicia Keys]]). ''Confessions'' earned Usher various awards, including the [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album]].

According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', it is the second-best selling album of the 2000s decade in the United States, behind [[NSYNC]]'s ''[[No Strings Attached (NSYNC album)|No Strings Attached]]''. With over eight million copies sold in 2004, the album was viewed as a sign of recovering album sales in the United States, following three years of decline. It was also exemplary of [[Urban contemporary|urban music]]'s commercial peak and dominance of the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' charts]] in 2004. ''Confessions'' has been certified [[RIAA Certification|fourteen-times platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). As of 2006, the album has sold over 10.3 million copies in the US and over 15 million copies worldwide,<ref name="fifteen">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/theater/reviews/08chic.html|title=A Genial Pop Idol Plays a Legal Shark Without Teeth|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 8, 2006 |access-date=June 23, 2012|last1=Brantley |first1=Ben }}</ref> making it the [[List of best-selling albums of the 21st century|best-selling R&B album of the 21st century]] by a male artist. Usher would also promote it with the [[Truth Tour]] the same year as the album's release, marking his first international tour. ''Confessions''' concept, production and Usher's vocal delivery received acclaim since upon its release, and in 2020 the album was ranked number 432 on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|''Rolling Stone'''s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] list.<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{Cite magazine|date=September 22, 2020|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=November 2, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

==Background and recording==
When he began recording ''Confessions'' in 2003, Usher claimed he did not want to work with any new producers.<ref name="Reid">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Road to the Grammys: The Making of Usher's Confessions |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496656/20050207/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308103009/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1496656/20050207/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2005 |publisher=[[MTV News]]. [[Viacom Media Networks]]|date=February 7, 2005 |access-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref> Production began between Usher and [[Jermaine Dupri]], who produced his last two albums, ''[[My Way (Usher album)|My Way]]'' (1997) and ''[[8701]]'' (2001).<ref name="Reid"/> In spite of his vision, Usher stated, "With this album I chose some new producers who I figured would definitely allow me to really articulate myself in a different way&nbsp;... Every album you gotta grow. You gotta look for something different."<ref name="Reid4">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher To Share His Confessions in March |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1483836/20031219/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031224061342/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1483836/20031219/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2003 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=December 19, 2003 |access-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref> Dupri also invited his frequent collaborator [[Bryan-Michael Cox]]. The album features productions by [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], [[Just Blaze]], Usher's brother James Lackey, [[Dre & Vidal|Dre and Vidal]], among others.<ref name="Reid2">{{Cite news|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher: King Me |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/ |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks |access-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024133954/http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/ |archive-date=October 24, 2012 }}</ref>

When Usher felt that the album was completed,<ref name="Reid2"/> with forty recorded songs, he submitted the album to his record label, [[Arista Records|Arista]].<ref name="Reid3">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=The Road To Confessions: How Usher 'Shook A Million' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486094/20040331/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040406004209/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486094/20040331/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2004 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=March 31, 2004 |access-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref> However, he and the company's then-president, [[L. A. Reid]], who listened to the record, thought something was missing in it. "You know what, there's like one or two more records that we just gotta get."<ref name="Reid2"/> Usher was displeased with the decision; he felt returning to the studio was the hardest part and needed to re-motivate himself.<ref name="Reid3"/> He went on recording a few more tracks with help from fellow [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlantans]] [[Lil Jon]] and [[Ludacris]]. Eventually, the team was able to produce songs like "Red Light" and "Yeah!". He also recorded songs with [[P. Diddy]] and The Neptunes during one of those sessions, but those songs were not released.<ref name="Reid3"/>

==Composition==
One of Usher's first steps in recording ''Confessions'' was deciding to reveal "his own little secrets".<ref name="Reid"/> Friend and former [[A&R]] rep named Kawan "KP" Prather thought the album would let the public know Usher personally. Prather said, "The music has never been the question, but people tend to buy into the artist. The more they know about you, the more they feel like they're there with you."<ref name="Reid"/> Primarily because of the album's personal content, Usher said that this is his chance to be real.<ref name="2Reid2">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher: King Me (Part II) |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index2.jhtml |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks |access-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106222550/http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index2.jhtml |archive-date=November 6, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He named the album ''Confessions'' because he felt it is his most personal record to date: "All of us have our [[Pandora's box]]es or skeletons in our closets. I let a few of them out, you know. I've got a lot to say. I've got a lot of things and stuff built in me that I just want to let go of."<ref name="Skeleton">{{Cite news |title=Usher Lets Skeletons Out of the Closet on Confessions |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485074/20040217/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407191919/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485074/20040217/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2004 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=February 17, 2004 |access-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref> He wrote more songs than he contributed to his previous album.

Several of the songs in this album were conceptually based on a situation.<!-- Say what? --> For instance, "[[Burn (Usher song)|Burn]]" was built around the winding down of Usher's two-year relationship with [[Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas]] from American R&B-Hip hop [[girl group]] [[TLC (group)|TLC]].<ref name="Vineyard">{{Cite news |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |title=In Book Proposal, Dupri Calls Em A Hater, Says Usher's Confessions Are Really His |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521586/20060125/dupri_jermaine.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702224645/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1521586/20060125/dupri_jermaine.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2007 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=January 25, 2006 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> Dupri and Cox were talking and felt that there was a song in it, and started writing.<ref name="Reid"/> Similarly, with the title track "[[Confessions Part II]]", they were conversing about an impregnated mistress, and its concept was written down.<!-- Heal or kill this sentence, please --><ref name="Reid"/> Usher recorded "Confessions Part II" during July 2003 recording sessions in [[New York City]]. When Usher sang the song's lyrics, the theme of cheating inspired him and Dupri to create two parts; "Confessions Part I" and "Confessions Part II". "Confessions Part I" can be heard at the beginning of the video for "Confessions Part II".<ref name="2Reid2"/>

===Music and style===
{{Listen|pos = right
 |filename     = Confessions Part II.ogg
 |title        = "Confessions Part II"
 |description  = The song is set in [[time signature|common time]] and has a moderate [[groove (music)|groove]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Usher – Confessions Part II |publisher=[[EMI Music Publishing]]. Musicnotes.com}}</ref> Its lyrics centers on the narrator's confession about impregnating his mistress.<ref name="Reid3"/>
}}
''Confessions'' falls mainly in the [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] genre.<ref name="Reid4"/><ref name="Reid2"/> Usher commented that he chose to work with collaborators who know "...&nbsp;how to interpret R&B from a [[jazz]] standpoint, an old school throwback standpoint, a new school point, a traditional classic standpoint&nbsp;..."<ref name="3Ives">{{Cite news |last=Ives |first=Brian |title=Usher's Confession: "It Ain't Soft To Be R&B"&nbsp;– Part 3 |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/editorial/?page=3&contentId=1585275 |work=Vh1 |date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2008 |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224011406/http://www.vh1.com/news/editorial/?page=3&contentId=1585275 |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> With producers and Usher set to produce such an album, however, other musical genres including [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] were incorporated. While he wanted to do R&B,<ref name="Reid"/> Usher also wanted his fans to experience hip hop at the same time: "I try to think outside the box."<ref name="3Ives"/> When Lil Jon came on the scene, [[crunk]] was introduced to the R&B-centered album, specifically on the [[Sean Garrett]]-penned song "[[Yeah! (Usher song)|Yeah!]]". Usher said, "'Yeah!' could be called the first consciously styled "crunk R&B" record."<ref name="Skeleton"/> The album also includes various [[slow jam]]s.<ref name="2Reid2"/>

This record also introduces a new style for Usher, focusing on his voice and technique. [[Dre & Vidal|Andre "Dre" Harris and Vidal Davis]] listened to ''8701'' and felt that "Usher really needs to sing hard and let people know his vocal ability".<ref name="Reid"/> With efforts focused on the record to demonstrate his vocal ability to listeners, songs such as "Superstar" and "Follow Me" exhibited Usher in a type of "crooner mode".<ref name="Reid"/> The [[ballad (music)|ballad]]-oriented "Burn" also showcases his vocal aptitude.<ref name="Reid5">{{Cite news|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher:Souled Out |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_031904/ |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks |access-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501235813/http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_031904/ |archive-date=May 1, 2008 }}</ref> 

Usher credits [[Eminem]] with the album's reputation of being transparent, and [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]] with the [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] sound of the album, stating in an interview with [[Sway Calloway|Sway]]: {{blockquote|I have Eminem to thank for that...well, in a time where I felt like music was in transition, and R&B specifically was in a place where it could go older, or it could kind of be what it was. Right? You had all these great, you know, artists that were either performers, dancers, singers, whatever...but I felt like there, the honesty. The honesty of hip-hop, and what Eminem was saying on his records, it motivated me. Like, yo if he could be ''that'' honest, you know through hip-hop - and there've been other stories, storytellers, but never quite as vivid as his. So I was like, we need to keep it real like Em. I wanna go all the way in, so lemme talk about the unspoken, the shit that people don't want to talk about and don't want to have to deal with. So, that's what ''Confessions'' kinda kicked in. And I got that Cleveland, because, you know with the Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, you know what I'm saying is to just understanding that the rhythm and the flip of it to make it be able to make it be at least,  you know, hip-hop appropriate. You know what I'm saying? That's what it was. And that kinda recreated what I felt R&B was and what it is to day, in some ways.<ref>{{cite web |title=Usher Tells All: Career Ups-And-Downs, Eminem, Ex-Wife & Tour Secrets {{!}} Sway's Universe | website=[[YouTube]] | date=October 6, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCVxCTBhpUk |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref>}}

==Release==
[[File:Usher.jpg|thumb|alt=Usher smiling|Usher on April 23, 2004.]]
''Confessions'' was slated to be released on November 6, 2003. However, due to marketing issues, the scheduled date was moved to March 23 of the following year.<ref name="Reid"/><ref name="Reid2"/> With several songs recorded, Usher faced the challenge of determining the final track listing. Usher, Dupri, Reid, and then-A&R rep Mark Pitts each had their favorites among the forty, but decided to choose those which "came up consistently more".<ref name="Reid"/> The collective was able to settle on fifteen of them, with two interludes completing the seventeen track list. Many songs were set aside for future use, including "Red Light" and a remix of "Yeah!". Usher and Arista held advance listenings for the album, a few months before its actual release; he also appeared on TV guestings to promote ''Confessions''.<ref name="Reid3"/>

With strategies to boost the album's sales albeit threats of stealing music in the internet, Usher and his management readied a follow-up release of ''Confessions'' with an additional marketing blitz.<ref name="Jones">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Steve |title=Usher amends his 'Confessions' to boost CD sales |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-09-12-usher_x.htm |work=[[USA Today]] |publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=September 12, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> The idea was considered "musically driven" after Zomba, who absorbed Arista, management was excited about "[[My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)|My Boo]]", a song that was recorded for the original version of the album but failed to meet deadline.<ref name="Jones"/> However, it actually began when American R&B and [[soul music|soul]] singer [[Alicia Keys]], who is featured on the track, "brought in that the talk of repackaging started".<ref name="Jones"/> With the inclusion of "My Boo", they thought of the album as complete.<ref name="Reid7">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher, Alicia Keys Record Duet |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488394/20040614/usher.jhtml
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618010026/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488394/20040614/usher.jhtml
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=June 18, 2004
|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=June 14, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> While they knew of other artists releasing special editions of their albums, the label felt that ''Confessions'' had the edge because of its previous success and its physical changes, including new [[cover art]], an expanded CD booklet, a pullout poster and a letter to fans from Usher.<ref name="Jones"/> The new version includes "My Boo" and "Red Light", which were leaked alongside other songs that did not appear in the album,<ref name="Reid8">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher/ Alicia Keys Video To Accompany Confessions Re-Release |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1489801/20040729/usher.jhtml
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040828112542/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1489801/20040729/usher.jhtml
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=August 28, 2004
|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=July 29, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> and a remix of "Confessions Part II", and "Seduction"; original tracks were also improved like the extended version of "Confessions Part I" and a rap added by American rapper [[Jadakiss]] in "[[Throwback (song)|Throwback]]". The label itself treated the version a new album, with full media advertisements.<ref name="Jones"/> The album was re-issued in October 2004,<ref name="Sisario">{{Cite web |last=Sisario |first=Ben |title=Arts, Briefly; The Year of Usher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/21/arts/arts-briefly-the-year-of-usher.html?sq=Confessions+by+Usher&scp=20&st=nyt |work=The New York Times |date=December 21, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> seven months after its initial release.<ref>Kellman, Andy. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r714449|pure_url=yes}} Confessions – Bonus Tracks]. [[AllMusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]]. Retrieved on 2009-02-22.</ref>

Another expanded edition of the album, commemorating its 20th anniversary, is scheduled for release on November 1, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=2024-09-12 |title=Usher Announces 'Confessions (20th Anniversary Edition)' |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2024/09/usher-announces-confessions-20th-anniversary-edition/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Rated R&B |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Marketing===
In selecting which single to release first, Usher and the label considered various marketing strategies. With many potential lead singles that could fare well in music markets, they were choosing between "Yeah!" and "Burn".<ref name="Reid"/> Even though "Burn" was just what the label was looking for, they believed that "Yeah!" would be a blockbuster.<ref name="Reid"/><ref name="Reid2"/> Meanwhile, they felt "Burn" also failed to meet their expectations: "'Burn' being a great song is one thing, but it's one of them things where people said, 'It's strong, but can we make history with that?' At the end of the day, you want an event."<ref name="Reid"/>

Usher was skeptical about whether "Yeah!"—which is largely composed around crunk—would be a good choice, given his mindset envisioning "Confessions" as an R&B record.<ref name="Reid"/><ref name="Skeleton"/> KP recalled, "Everybody was scared to make that first step."<ref name="Reid"/>

With much debate between two songs, "Burn" was originally chosen as the lead single, with plans of filming its music video in late 2003.<ref name="Reid4"/> Meanwhile, Lil Jon leaked "Yeah!" to DJs across the United States in November 2003.<ref name="Reid"/><ref name="Reid3"/> Originally, the label did not intend "Yeah!" as a proper single. Released to street DJs and [[mixtape]]s, it was meant to cultivate fans who waited for three years since the release of ''8701''.<ref name="Skeleton"/> While record labels stayed idle during the Christmas season, "Yeah!" was getting favorable and quick response from radio stations though nobody was promoting; it was finally released as the lead single.<ref name="Reid"/><ref name="Skeleton"/>

To keep the album atop the chart, "My Boo" was targeted for release after "Confessions Part II" was diminishing on the Hot 100.<ref name="Reid7"/> The [[B-side]] of the UK release includes "Red Light" and "Sweet Lies". The single again topped the Hot 100, giving the album its fourth consecutive number-one. "Caught Up" was released as the album's fifth and final single, and reached number eight in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p44890/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Usher: Billboard Singles|publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref>

===Tour===
Usher supported the album with a two-month concert tour called "[[Truth Tour|The Truth Tour]]". The tour set featured a small stage up on top of the main stage, where the band played with Usher and his supporting dancers left with enough room to perform. The smaller stage had a mini platform attached to it—which lowered to the main stage—and had two big staircases on both sides of it. To the left, a group of circular staircases climbed to the top, and to the right, there was a fire escape replete with steps and an elevator. [[Kanye West]], who had finished his own headlining tour for his 2004 album ''[[The College Dropout]]'', was the opening act for "The Truth Tour".<ref name="tour">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488215/usher-kanye-bring-truth-nationwide.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222042521/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488215/usher-kanye-bring-truth-nationwide.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2012|title=Usher, Kanye To Bring 'The Truth' Nationwide|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|last=Patel|first=Joseph|date=June 7, 2004|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

Preceding Usher's entrance was a short movie showing him getting dressed, following on with him performing the opening song "[[Caught Up (Usher song)|Caught Up]]", with Usher dressed in all white.<ref name="tour1">{{cite web|first=Shaheem|last=Reid|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490004/usher-proves-hes-truth-at-tour-launch.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108214202/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490004/usher-proves-hes-truth-at-tour-launch.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2012|title=Usher Proves He's 'The Truth' At Tour Kickoff|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=August 6, 2004|access-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref> The second song performed was "[[You Make Me Wanna...]]", where two dancers stayed on the top stage with Usher while two male dancers came out to the lower level with two chairs each in their hands. Each dancer threw one chair up to the top, with Usher already in hand with his own chair, with everyone following a set dance routine.<ref name="tour1"/> Following this, Usher performed "[[U Remind Me]]", where he danced by himself during a breakdown of the track.<ref name="tour1"/> He then sang "That's What It's Made For", following on with the song "Bad Girl", where Usher was dressed up in a lavender suit and came out in a chrome chair.<ref name="tour1"/> During the song, Usher picked out a female from the crowd, transitioning to "Superstar", singing to the fan.<ref name="tour1"/> Usher continued singing to the fan, performing "Can U Handle It?", closing the song by kissing the fan who then left the stage.<ref name="tour1"/> Usher closed his performance with ''Confessions''{{'}} lead single "[[Yeah! (Usher song)|Yeah!]]".<ref name="tour1"/>

The American leg of the tour commenced on August 5, 2004, in Hampton, Virginia and concluded on October 7, 2004, in New York.<ref name="tour"/> It was ranked as one of the highest-grossing tours of 2004, grossing $29.1 million.<ref>{{cite journal|year=2005|title=Jet|journal=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|pages=58|publisher=[[Johnson Publishing Company]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JbYDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22usher%22+%22the+truth+tour%22&pg=PA58|access-date=April 22, 2013|issn=0021-5996|volume=107, 6}}</ref>

== Public reaction ==
After Usher and his label held a few listening parties for the album,<ref name="Reid6">{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Shaheem |title=Usher Says He's Not A Baby's Daddy |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485933/20040323/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812053558/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485933/20040323/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2004 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=March 24, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> controversies spread about the mistress-impregnating concept of "Confessions Part II".<ref name="Reid3"/> Although Usher did not foresee such a reaction to the album,<ref name="Reid6"/> Dupri already guessed, while making the album, what the public's reaction would be: "People are gonna question [Usher] on a couple of little lyrics&nbsp;..."<ref name="2Reid2"/> Coincidentally, Usher ended his relationship with Chilli early in 2004.<ref name="3Reid2">{{Cite news
 |last=Reid 
 |first=Shaheem 
 |title=Usher: King Me 
 |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index3.jhtml 
 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks 
 |access-date=May 20, 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119122454/http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index3.jhtml 
 |archive-date=January 19, 2008 
}}</ref> People speculated about their breakup given the content of the album and Usher's early interviews about its themes. With lyrics Usher admitted to have written because of his guilty conscience, people assumed that he and Chilli broke up because he was unfaithful.<ref name="3Reid2"/> In a February 2004 radio interview, Chilli claimed that Usher "cheated" on her, and that caused their relationship to split.<ref name="Peterson">{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Todd |title=TLC's Chilli Dishes on Ex-Beau Usher |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,627673,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227150550/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,627673,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 27, 2007 |work=People |date=February 20, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>

Amidst widespread rumors, Usher stated, "People assume things, because as I said, I pull from my personal experiences to make my music."<ref name="2Reid2"/> He added that he loved Chilli, however, "...&nbsp;it just didn't work out. But cheating is not what caused the relationship to collide and crash&nbsp;..."<ref name="3Reid2"/> Although "Burn" is a reference to his dying relationship with Chilli<ref name="Vineyard"/>—hence the title—Usher answered the press that the impregnating issue was not taken from a specific situation in his life.<ref name="Skeleton"/> He also revealed that his friends who went through similar situations inspired him to write those songs: "...&nbsp;it's just something that I collectively got energy from everybody around me that had been through it."<ref name="Reid6"/> In early 2006, Dupri revealed that the story behind the album is his: "...&nbsp;me cheating on my steady girlfriend, having a baby with that other woman and having to confess to everything that happened to my main girl."<ref name="Vineyard"/>

== Critical reception ==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 71/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/confessions/usher|title=Reviews for Confessions by Usher|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Kellman">{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/confessions-mw0000696433|title=Confessions – Usher|publisher=AllMusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=September 13, 2009}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Caramanica">{{cite journal|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|url=http://www.blender.com:80/reviews/review_1993.html|title=Usher: Confessions|journal=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|issue=25|page=132|date=April 2004|access-date=November 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614103314/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_1993.html|archive-date=June 14, 2004|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = B+<ref name="Aswad">{{cite magazine|last=Aswad|first=Jem|url=https://ew.com/article/2004/03/26/confessions/|title=Confessions|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|issue=757|page=72|date=March 26, 2004|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-date=August 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813005332/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,602386,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/12/popandrock.shopping5|title=CD: Usher, Confessions|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|at=Friday Review, p. 18|date=March 11, 2004|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="Hilburn">{{cite news|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Hilburn|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-mar-21-ca-rack21-story.html|title=A bolder Usher is in the house|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 21, 2004|access-date=September 13, 2009}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Barry">{{cite news|last=Barry|first=Rebecca|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=3567872|title=Usher: Confessions|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=May 21, 2004|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7Score = 9.0/10<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/usher-confessions/|last=Hope |first=Clover |date=November 20, 2020 |title= Usher: Confessions Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Qmag">{{cite journal|title=Usher: Confessions|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=215|page=107|date=June 2004}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Sinagra">{{cite magazine|last=Sinagra|first=Laura|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/usher/albums/album/5165180/review/5944284/confessions|title=Usher: Confessions|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=March 24, 2004|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002015448/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/usher/albums/album/5165180/review/5944284/confessions|archive-date=October 2, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[USA Today]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-03-22-usher-confessions_x.htm|title='Confessions' time: Usher continues his ascendancy|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=March 22, 2004|access-date=September 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209162511/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-03-22-usher-confessions_x.htm|archive-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev11 = ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]''
| rev11Score = 3.5/5<ref name="Checkoway">{{cite journal|last=Checkoway|first=Laura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA160|title=Usher: Confessions|journal=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|volume=12|issue=5|date=May 2004|access-date=May 7, 2012|page=160}}</ref>
}}
''Confessions'' was met with generally positive reviews. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 71, based on 13 reviews.<ref name="MC"/>

Matt Cibula of [[PopMatters]] wrote that it "might be the best English-language pop album of the year".<ref name="Cibula">Cibula, Matt. [https://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/u/usher-confessions.shtml Review: ''Confessions'']. [[PopMatters]]. Retrieved on 2009-09-13.</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Jem Aswad said that Usher "reveals his new-found maturity by opening with the grittiest song he's ever done."<ref name="Aswad"/> Laura Checkoway of ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' said that, "Though ''Confessions'' doesn't bring Usher all the way to the artistic maturity one might hope for, tracking this star's progression definitely has its satisfactions."<ref name="Checkoway"/> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine observed "addictive R&B hooks and all-dancin', all-lovin' subject matter boosted with hot production tweaks."<ref name="Qmag"/> Amy Linden of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' commented that "Usher's (alleged) character flaws are easily forgiven, though, because he can sing his cheating ass off," and concluded, "Like 2002's big-selling but underrated ''8701'', ''Confessions'' is a top-of-the-line pop-soul showcase that ... manages to be commercially savvy without coming off as too desperate. Sorta like Usher himself."<ref name="Linden">Linden, Amy. [http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-04-13/music/infidelity-aware-r-b-cutie-pie-proves-he-d-be-a-crummy-boyfriend/1 Review: ''Confessions''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524225110/http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-04-13/music/infidelity-aware-r-b-cutie-pie-proves-he-d-be-a-crummy-boyfriend/1/ |date=May 24, 2011 }}. ''[[The Village Voice]]''. Retrieved on 2009-09-13.</ref> Kelefa Sanneh of ''[[The New York Times]]'' said that near the end, the songwriting "fails" Usher on a "heavily front-loaded" R&B album, but felt that his performance is solid throughout:

{{blockquote|The pleasure of listening to Usher is the pleasure of listening to a singer who knows exactly what he's doing. 'Truth Hurts,' a seemingly innocent (if plaintive) 1970s throwback, turns nasty when the narrator suddenly reveals that the first two verses were full of lies. Which raises the question: are these supposed 'confessions' true? He loves toying with his audience this way, loves telling us exactly how bad he is, then daring us to believe him.<ref name="Sanneh">Sanneh, Kelefa. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/28/arts/two-lessons-at-the-school-for-scandal.html Review: ''Confessions'']. ''[[The New York Times]]''. [[The New York Times Company]]. Retrieved on 2009-09-13.</ref>}}

In a mixed review, Caroline Sullivan of ''[[The Guardian]]'' criticized its "production gloss" and said that, although Usher's "fluid delivery" redeems weak tracks, there are only two "great songs"—"Yeah!" and the title track—and "17 less so."<ref name="Sullivan"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer Laura Sinagra said that he "is coming of age, again", but "still doesn't quite cut it as a horny roughneck".<ref name="Sinagra"/> Jon Caramanica of ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' viewed that Usher's songwriting "isn't a strength, and his ballads often drown in their own inanity".<ref name="Caramanica"/> ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s Elizabeth Mendez Berry called ''Confessions'' "Usher's strongest recording to date" but found the more sexual songs mundane.<ref name="Berry">Berry, Elizabeth Mendez. "[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/617513131.html?dids=617513131:617513131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+14%2C+2004&author=Elizabeth+Mendez+Berry&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc='Confessions'%3A+Usher+Tries+on+a+New+Image&pqatl=google Review: ''Confessions''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724215638/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/617513131.html?dids=617513131%3A617513131&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Apr+14%2C+2004&author=Elizabeth+Mendez+Berry&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=%27Confessions%27%3A+Usher+Tries+on+a+New+Image&pqatl=google |date=July 24, 2012 }}". ''[[The Washington Post]]'': C.05. April 14, 2004. (Transcription of original review at [[Talk:Confessions (Usher album)#Washington Post review|talk page]])</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] from ''[[The Village Voice]]'' named "Confessions Part II" and "Bad Girl" as "choice cuts",<ref>{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=July 6, 2004|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv604-04.php|title=Consumer Guide: Squirt You|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> indicating "a good song on an album that isn't worth your time or money".<ref>{{cite web|year=2000|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php|title=Key to Icons|publisher=Robert Christgau|access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
[[File:Usher Miami.jpg|thumb|alt=Usher in a white source with a small entourage, walking in a parking lot|Usher at the [[2004 MTV Video Music Awards]] before winning his first two awards.]]
The album earned Usher numerous accolades. At the [[47th Annual Grammy Awards|47th Grammy Awards]], he was nominated for eight categories and won three: [[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album|Best Contemporary R&B Album]], [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] (for "My Boo") and [[Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance|Best Rap/Sung Collaboration]] (for "Yeah!"). Usher won awards at the 2005 [[Soul Train Music Awards]]: [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album – Male|R&B/Soul Album, Male]] (for ''Confessions''); [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male|R&B/Soul Single, Male]] for ("Confessions Part II"); [[Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo|R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo]] (for "My Boo"); and R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut (for "Yeah!").<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Usher, Keys Top Soul Train Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63916/usher-keys-top-soul-train-awards|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref> At the 2004 [[American Music Awards]], he won four, including [[American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album|Favorite Soul/R&B Album]] and [[American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist|Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist]]. At the 2004 [[Billboard Music Awards]], Usher racked up eleven awards, more than any other artist in one night at the time. These include Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Hot 100 Song of the Year for "Yeah!". In December 2009 it was ranked as the best solo album and second best overall album of the 2000–2009 decade.<ref name="BB-2000s"/> Its singles "[[Yeah! (Usher song)|Yeah!]]", "[[Burn (Usher song)|Burn]], and "[[My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)|My Boo]]" were all ranked as some of the best songs of the 2000–2009 decade, respectively placing in order at number two, number 21, and number 36.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of the 2000s: Hot 100 Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009 |page=1 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of the 2000s: Hot 100 Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009&begin=21&order=position |page=3 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Best of the 2000s: Hot 100 Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009&begin=31&order=position |page=4 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 13, 2011}}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
''Confessions'' was commercially successful, selling 1.096 million copies in the United States in its first week of release.<ref name="Todd">{{Cite news |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |title=Usher Makes Record-Breaking Debut Atop Albums Chart|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486082/20040331/usher.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404143311/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486082/20040331/usher.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2004|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=March 31, 2004 |access-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> It became the highest-ever first week sales by an R&B artist,<ref name="Todd"/> the second-highest first week sales for a male artist, and the seventh-highest first week sales of the recorded album charts history by SoundScan at the time of its release.<ref name="Reid3"/> It also equates the combined first-week sales of his four previous album releases, including his live album called ''[[Live (Usher album)|Live]]''.<ref name="D'Angelo">{{Cite news |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |title=Usher Makes Record-Breaking Debut Atop Albums Chart |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486082/20040331/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404143311/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486082/20040331/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2004 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=March 31, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> The feat also carved history in Arista records having the first in any of their released albums to reach such sales. The success of the thirty-year-old record label, however, was attributed to its merging with [[Zomba Records]].<ref name="D'Angelo"/> As of March 2013 it has the tenth highest first week album sales in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/the-25-biggest-first-week-album-sales-in-music-history/usher-confessions|title=The 25 Biggest First-Week Album Sales in Music HistoryUsher, ''Confessions'': 1,096,000|website=[[Complex Networks]]}}</ref>

The album debuted at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], becoming Usher's first number-one album.<ref name="D'Angelo"/> ''Confessions'' also hit number-one on the [[Canadian Albums Chart]] and the US [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]].<ref name="charts">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r681098/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}}|title=Usher: Billboard Albums|publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref> Its early, and successive, progress on the chart was said to be partly sustained by its strong single releases and plenty of press appearances and promotions.<ref name="D'Angelo"/> With "Yeah!" propelling the album's debut atop the chart,<ref name="D'Angelo"/> "Burn", the second single off the album, facilitated ''Confessions''{{'s}} continuing dominance as well.<ref name="D'Angelo2">{{Cite news |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |title='Burn' Keeps Usher Hot – And on Top |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487119/20040519/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040528222249/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487119/20040519/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2004 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=May 19, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> The first two released singles were competing on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100; the latter ended the twelve-week number-one chart run of the former.<ref name="Whitmire3">{{Cite magazine|title=Usher's 'Burn' Reclaims Hot 100 No. 1 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67447/ushers-burn-reclaims-hot-100-no-1|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=July 8, 2004|access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> As the album's third single, "Confessions Part II", was about to top the chart and Usher to join with English pop and rock group [[The Beatles]] as the only acts to achieve three consecutive number-one singles, American R&B singer [[Fantasia Barrino]]'s debut single "[[I Believe (Fantasia song)|I Believe]]" prevented it from happening.<ref name="Whitmire2">{{Cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |title=Usher Notches Another No. 1 Single |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67335/usher-notches-another-no-1-single |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=July 15, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> Despite this, Usher became the first artist to top the ''Billboard'' [[Hot 100 Airplay]] with three consecutive number-one singles.<ref name="Whitmire2"/> "Burn" achieved only eight non-consecutive weeks on the Hot 100 after "Confessions Part II" topped the chart; it became Usher's second time to replace his own single at the top.<ref name="Whitmire2"/> "Yeah!" and "Burn" were 2004's top best-selling singles in the United States, placing at number one and two respectively on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Chart Year-Ender. Again, it honored Usher being the first act to achieve the feat since 1964 with the Beatles' "[[I Want to Hold Your Hand]]" and "[[She Loves You]]".<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |title=Arts, Briefly; The Year of Usher |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E1D91330F932A15751C1A9629C8B63&scp=29&sq=Usher%27s+Confessions&st=nyt |work=The New York Times |date=December 21, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>

The album continued its dominance on the chart. ''[[D12 World]]'' by [[D12 (band)|D12]] ended its five consecutive weeks run at the top spot;<ref name="Whitmire4">{{Cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |title=D12 Ends Usher's Album Chart Reign |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1438459/d12-ends-ushers-chart-reign |magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=May 5, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> however, ''Confessions'' reclaimed the position the following week.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Angelo|first=Joe|title=Usher Sends D12 Packing |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486966/usher-sends-d12-packing.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210114923/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486966/usher-sends-d12-packing.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2012|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=May 12, 2004|access-date=May 18, 2013}}</ref> The album spent a total 9 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the ''Billboard''&nbsp;200, becoming the longest-running number one album of the millennium until 2009, when country singer [[Taylor Swift]] spent 11 weeks atop the charts with ''[[Fearless (Taylor Swift album)|Fearless]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/usher-looks-back-five-years-after-confessions-20090402|title=Usher Looks Back Five Years After "Confessions"|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=April 2, 2009|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> Over one month after its release, ''Confessions'' was certified triple-platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for three million US shipments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.ca.music.yahoo.com/read/news/12178986 |title=Usher Album Tips Triple-Platinum |publisher=Yahoo!. Yahoo! Music |access-date=May 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130518195330/http://music.ca.music.yahoo.com/read/news/12178986 |archive-date=May 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> ''Confessions'' topped the list of the most-shipped albums of 2004 in the United States and was the best selling album of the year with 7,978,594 copies sold.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495188/20041228/usher.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041230033849/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495188/20041228/usher.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 30, 2004|title=Usher's Confessions The Most-Shipped Album Of 2004|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=December 28, 2004|publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|access-date=December 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nielsen Soundscan Report: Music Sales Up In 2004|url=https://celebrityaccess.com/caarchive/nielsen-soundscan-report-music-sales-up-in-2004/|access-date=2020-11-18|website=celebrityaccess.com|date=January 21, 2005 }}</ref>  ''Confessions'' was the sixth best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the US.<ref name="BB-2000s">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=The Decade in Music - Charts - SoundScan Top Albums of Decade|date=December 19, 2009|via=World Radio History|magazine=Billboard|page=175|access-date=August 31, 2021}} ''Digit page 179 on the PDF archive.''</ref> In February 2024, it reached 14 million shipments in the US, according to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gold & Platinum|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|access-date=2020-07-14|website=RIAA|language=en-US}}</ref>''Confessions'' sold over 15 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album by a Black artist in the 21st century.<ref name="fifteen"/>

==Legacy==
=== Music industry ===
{{see also|Album era}}
With sales of nearly eight million in 2004,<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |author= |date=January 5, 2005 |title=Album Sales Expected to Show 1.6% Rise |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/05/business/media/05music.html?scp=9&sq=Usher%27s+Confessions&st=nyt |access-date=May 20, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> ''Confessions'' was the most-shipped album of the year in the US.<ref name="Vineyard2"/> Along with the success of the American singer [[Norah Jones]]'s second album, ''[[Feels Like Home (Norah Jones album)|Feels like Home]]'' (2004), as well as breakthroughs albums by many new and old artists, it was seen as a sign that US record sales were slowly recovering after three straight years of decline due to competing DVDs and video games and the prevalent [[copyright infringement|music piracy]]. By the end of 2004, the industry had sold 667 million albums, an increase of about 1.6 percent, as recorded by [[Nielsen SoundScan]]. Compared with sales records in 2003, the figures showed eight percent increase.<ref name="NYT"/> The album's success also exemplified [[urban contemporary|urban music]]'s commercial dominance during the early 2000s, which featured massive [[crossover (music)|crossover]] success on the [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' charts]] by R&B and hip hop artists.<ref name="Molanphy"/> In 2004, all 12 songs that [[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 2004|topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100]] were by African-American recording artists and accounted for 80% of the [[list of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)|number-one R&B hits]] that year.<ref name="Molanphy"/> Along with Usher's streak of singles, [[Top 40]] radio and both pop and R&B charts were topped by [[Outkast|OutKast]]'s "[[Hey Ya!]]", [[Snoop Dogg]]'s "[[Drop It Like It's Hot]]", [[Terror Squad Entertainment|Terror Squad]]'s "[[Lean Back]]", and [[Ciara]]'s "[[Goodies (song)|Goodies]]".<ref name="Molanphy"/> Chris Molanphy of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' later remarked that "by the early 2000s, urban music ''was'' pop music."<ref name="Molanphy">{{cite web|last=Molanphy |first=Chris |date=July 16, 2012 |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/07/sales_slump_usher_chris_brown.php?page=2 |title=100 & Single: The R&B/Hip-Hop Factor in the Music Business's Endless Slump |publisher=[[The Village Voice|The Village Voice Blogs]]. [[Village Voice Media]] |access-date=July 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720033330/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/07/sales_slump_usher_chris_brown.php?page=2 |archive-date=July 20, 2012 }}</ref>

In a year-end article for ''[[The New York Times]]'', writer Ben Sisario dubbed 2004 "the year of Usher".<ref name="Sisario"/> The success of the album put Usher in the mainstream, becoming the biggest artist of 2004.<ref name="Vineyard2">{{Cite news |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |title=Usher's 'Yeah!' Was Most Played Song Of 2004 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495342/20050105/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050125105940/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495342/20050105/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 25, 2005 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=January 5, 2005 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> Others also said that Usher might be the successor of [[Michael Jackson]].<ref name="Ives">{{Cite news |last=Ives |first=Brian |title=Usher's Confession: "It Ain't Soft To Be R&B" – Part 1 |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/editorial/?page=1&contentId=1585275 |work=Vh1 |date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2008 |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518070551/http://www.vh1.com/news/editorial/?page=1&contentId=1585275 |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Uproxx]] says ''Confessions'' "has gone on to establish itself as one of the landmark albums in [[popular culture|pop culture]]", describing it as "an irreplaceable pillar in R&B lore".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://uproxx.com/smokingsection/usher-confessions/ |title= Ten Years Later: Revisiting Usher's 'Confessions' And Its All-Time Great Song Sequencing|website=[[Uproxx]]|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> According to [[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe magazine]], the album is credited for having "birthed" many contemporary albums such as [[Adele]]'s ''[[21 (Adele album)|21]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/adele-usher-confessions-influence/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Miguel (singer)|Miguel]]'s ''[[Kaleidoscope Dream]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/vibe-miguel-announces-new-ep-series-teases-how-many-drinks-remix-with-kendrick-lamar-2/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Drake (musician)|Drake]]'s ''[[So Far Gone (mixtape)|So Far Gone]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/drake-usher-confessions-influences/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Omarion]]'s ''[[O (Omarion album)|O]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/omarion-usher-confessions-influences/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Jason Derulo]]'s [[Jason Derulo (album)|self-titled debut]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/jason-derulo-usher-confessions-influence/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/2014/03/10-albums-usher-confessions-birthed-influences/|title= 10 Albums That Usher's 'Confessions' Birthed|website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|date= March 24, 2014|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref>

[[Bryan-Michael Cox]], who co-wrote and co-produced "Burn", earned credibility in the music industry for his role in the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bryan-michael-cox-mn0000731370/biography |title=Bryan-Michael Cox |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> Cox had been producing records for several American artists, including Alicia Keys, [[B2K]], [[Mariah Carey]] and [[Destiny's Child]], among others, but he considered "Burn" as his crowning moment, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations. With 2004 deemed to be his introduction to a larger, more mainstream audience, Cox stated in an interview for MTV that many people were starting to recount what he had done.<ref name="Hall">{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Rashaun |title=Usher's Success Lifts Songwriter/Producer Bryan-Michael Cox |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495827/20050112/usher.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050120035339/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495827/20050112/usher.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2005 |publisher=MTV News. Viacom Media Networks|date=January 12, 2005 |access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> A songwriter was awarded $44 million in a lawsuit involving a song from Usher's diamond-certified album ''Confessions'' after a jury sided with Daniel Marino in a claim that his "Club Girl" became Usher's hit "Bad Girl"<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/songwriter-usher-bad-girl-lawsuit-745112/|title=Songwriter Awarded $44 Million in Lawsuit Over Uncredited 2004 Usher Song|first=Ilana|last=Kaplan|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 20, 2018}}</ref>

''Confessions'' ranked 2nd best album of the 2000s on the ''Billboard Top 200 Albums of the Decade'' 2000s list, higher than any other solo album. The album is also ranked as the 16th best album on the ''Billboard Top 200 Albums of All Time''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=October 1, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2015|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> In 2020, the album was ranked number 432 on the ''Top 500 Albums of All-Time'' by ''Rolling Stone''.<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> With global sales exceeding 15 million, ''Confessions'' is the best-selling album by a black artist in the 21st century. ''Confessions'' makes Usher the only male solo R&B artist to sell 10 million copies of a single album in the United States during the [[Soundscan Era|Soundscan era]] and the first of only two black artists to reach this mark since the year 2000. (The other black artist being American rapper [[Nelly]] with his debut album ''[[Country Grammar]]''.) After ''Confessions'' was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 10 million copies in the US, no new album was certified diamond until [[Adele]]'s 2011 album ''[[21 (Adele album)|21]]'' reached diamond-status, the longest between any two new diamond albums since the inception of the association.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cashmere|first=Paul|date=November 28, 2012|title=Adele 21 Sells 10 Million|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/adele-21-is-certified-diamond-for-10-million-sales-20121128|access-date=2020-11-18|website=Noise11.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Pop culture ===
In 2020, music industry magazine ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''' ranked Usher the "Greatest Pop Star of 2004". Referring to a 2008 article from MTV, writer Shaheem Reid declared that "with Confessions, Usher has made the Big Connection [...]. That connection our parents felt when [[Marvin Gaye]] sang on the ''[[Here, My Dear]]'' album."<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 6, 2008|title=MTVNews.com: Usher: King Me|publisher=[[MTV]]|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index2.jhtml|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106222550/http://www.mtv.com/bands/u/usher/news_feature_052404/index2.jhtml|archive-date=November 6, 2008}}</ref> ''Billboard'' pointed out how most of the secrets revealed and storytelling in the album was inspired by Jermaine Dupri's situation, but they also noted Usher's marketing and "dalliances outside of his public relationship with TLC's Chilli that provided the material for ''Confessions".'' The writer praised Usher's commercial power during the ''Confessions'' era, as he would influence future pop stars: "Even if you didn't listen to R&B, you knew this album. And if you did listen to R&B, this was the blueprint for all your favorite stars to come: Drake, Justin Bieber, Miguel, Chris Brown and Omarion have all cited Usher's influence. And though [[Beyoncé]] spoke about ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' as the touchstone for her career-defining [[Beyoncé (album)|self-titled release]] in 2013, the way the lyrics tease revelations about her personal life with her husband, both good and bad, feels more indebted to ''Confessions'' than anything Michael Jackson wrote."<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=The Greatest Pop Star By Year: 1981 – 2019 (Staff Picks)|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9338589/greatest-pop-star-every-year|access-date=November 18, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

15 years after the album was released, A. Harmony of ''[[Bustle (magazine)|Bustle]]'' wrote it was "the catalyst that propelled him to superstardom" and "forever changed the landscape of music". Harmony noted the album's impact on R&B and pop music with the success of "Yeah!" leading "countless R&B stars, from Ciara to T-Pain, to launch careers on the foundation of Crunk&B". The writer also noted the album's influence on [[trap music]] and future generations of R&B and hip-hop artists. <blockquote>Think of trap soul as Crunk&B's mellowed, more subdued successor. Like crunk, it's punchy and heavily steeped in hip-hop influences. But like Usher's take on songs like "Yeah!" and "Follow Me," trap soul has contoured edges and smoother textures. From 6LACK's acerbic laments on love to H.E.R.'s dark, smoky vocals, current trends in R&B can be traced back to Usher's techniques. In this regard, Usher's mark on R&B is indelible; he not only inspired countless artists in the early 2000s, but also charted a course for today's stars.</blockquote> Harmony also pointed out the album's influence on the music industry and pop culture as a whole, as ''Confessions'' changed how albums are marketed and "proved that gossip can sell records".  Later albums such as Beyoncé's [[Lemonade (Beyoncé album)|''Lemonade'']], which was fueled by infidelity and divorce rumors with her rapper husband [[Jay-Z]], relationship rumors around [[Janelle Monáe]]'s ''[[Dirty Computer]]'', and [[Ariana Grande]]'s ''[[Thank U, Next]]'' coming off the heels of her public break up with comedian [[Pete Davidson]] were used as examples of how Usher's ''Confessions'' brought "the relationship between the gossip pages and the album charts... stronger than before".<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=A.|last=Harmony|title=How Usher's 'Confessions' Still Massively Influences Music, 15 Years After Its Release|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/how-ushers-confessions-still-massively-influences-music-15-years-after-its-release-16967557|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=November 18, 2020|magazine=Bustle}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{track listing
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
|headline = ''Confessions'' track listing
| title1          = Intro
| writer1         = 
| extra1          = {{hlist|James Lackey|Usher Raymond}}
| length1         = 0:46

| title2          = [[Yeah! (Usher song)|Yeah!]]
| note2           = featuring [[Lil Jon]] and [[Ludacris]]
| writer2         = {{hlist|[[Lil Jon|Jonathan Smith]]|[[Sean Garrett]]|[[Patrick "J. Que" Smith]]|[[Ludacris|Christopher Bridges]]|Robert McDowell|[[LRoc|James Phillips]]|LaMarquis Jefferson}}
| extra2          = {{hlist|Lil Jon|Garrett{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length2         = 4:10

| title3          = [[Throwback (song)|Throwback]]
| note3           = 
| writer3         = {{hlist|[[Rico Love|Richard P. Butler, Jr.]]|[[Just Blaze|Justin Smith]]|Que Smith|[[Holland–Dozier–Holland|Lamont Dozier]]|[[Holland–Dozier–Holland|Brian Holland]]|[[Holland–Dozier–Holland|Edward Holland]]|[[Richard "Popcorn" Wylie|Richard Wylie]]}}
| extra3          = [[Just Blaze]]
| length3         = 4:01

| title4          = Confessions (Interlude)
| writer4         = 
| extra4          = {{hlist|Raymond|[[One Way (American band)|Valdez Brantley]]|Juan Johnny Najera|Aaron Spears|Arthur Strong}}
| length4         = 1:15

| title5          = [[Confessions Part II]]
| writer5         = {{hlist|[[Jermaine Dupri]]|[[Bryan-Michael Cox]]|Raymond}}
| extra5          = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length5         = 3:49

| title6          = [[Burn (Usher song)|Burn]]
| writer6         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra6          = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length6         = 4:16

| title7          = [[Caught Up (Usher song)|Caught Up]]
| writer7         = {{hlist|[[Dre & Vidal|Andre Harris]]|[[Dre & Vidal|Vidal Davis]]|[[Poo Bear|Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd]]|[[Ryan Toby]]}}
| extra7          = [[Dre & Vidal]]
| length7         = 3:44

| title8          = Superstar (Interlude)
| writer8         = 
| extra8          = {{hlist|Raymond|Brantley|Najera|Spears|Strong}}
| length8         = 1:04

| title9          = Superstar
| writer9         = {{hlist|Harris|Davis|Boyd|Toby|Nyticka Hemingway}}
| extra9          = Dre & Vidal
| length9         = 3:29

| title10         = Truth Hurts
| writer10        = {{hlist|[[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|James Harris III]]|[[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|Terry Lewis]]|Raymond|[[The Avila Brothers|Bobby Ross Avila]]|[[The Avila Brothers|Issiah J. Avila]]}}
| extra10         = {{hlist|[[Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis]]|[[The Avila Brothers|Bobby Ross Avila & IZ]]{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length10        = 3:51

| title11         = Simple Things
| writer11        = {{hlist|Harris III|Lewis|Raymond|B. Avila|I. Avila}}
| extra11         = {{hlist|Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|Bobby Ross Avila & IZ{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length11        = 4:58

| title12         = Bad Girl
| writer12        = {{hlist|Harris III|Lewis|Raymond|Danté Barton|Wil Guice|B. Avila|I. Avila}}
| extra12         = {{hlist|Dante "Destro Music" Barton|Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|Bobby Ross Avila & IZ{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length12        = 4:21

| title13         = That's What It's Made For
| writer13        = {{hlist|Harris III|Lewis|Raymond|B. Avila|I. Avila|James Q. Wright}}
| extra13         = {{hlist|Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|Bobby Ross Avila & IZ{{ref|b|[b]}}|Wright{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length13        = 4:37

| title14         = Can U Handle It?
| writer14        = {{hlist|[[Robin Thicke]]|James Gass|Robert Daniels|Raymond}}
| extra14         = {{hlist|Thicke|Pro J}}
| length14        = 5:45

| title15         = Do It to Me
| writer15        = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra15         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length15        = 3:53

| title16         = Take Your Hand
| writer16        = {{hlist|[[Rich Harrison]]|Raymond|[[Gamble and Huff|Leon Huff]]|[[Gene McFadden]]|[[John Whitehead (singer)|John Whitehead]]}}
| extra16         = Harrison
| length16        = 3:03

| title17         = Follow Me
| writer17        = {{hlist|Harris|Davis|Boyd|Toby}}
| extra17         = {{hlist|Dre & Vidal|Toby{{ref|a|[a]}}|Boyd{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length17        = 3:30
}}
{{track listing
| extra_column    = Producer(s)
| headline        = UK edition bonus tracks

| title18         = Whatever I Want
| writer18        = {{hlist|Harrison|Raymond|[[Johnny Otis]]|[[Maxwell Davis]]|[[Shuggie Otis]]}}
| extra18         = Harrison
| length18        = 3:11

| title19         = Confessions Part I
| writer19        = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra19         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length19        = 4:21
}}
{{track listing
| headline        = Special edition Version 
| extra_column    = Producer(s)

| title3          = [[Throwback (song)|Throwback]]
| note3           = featuring [[Jadakiss]]
| writer3         = {{hlist|Butler|J. Smith|P. Smith|Dozier|B. Holland|E. Holland|Wylie|[[Jadakiss|Jason Phillips]]}}
| extra3          = Just Blaze
| length3         = 4:46

| title4          = Confessions Part I
| writer4         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra4          = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length4         = 4:21

| title5          = [[Confessions Part II]]
| note5           = ''Confessions'' Special Edit Version
| writer5         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra5          = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length5         = 3:30

| title6          = Burn
| note6           = ''Confessions'' Special Edit Version
| writer6         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond}}
| extra6          = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length6         = 3:51

| title9          = Superstar
| note9           = ''Confessions'' Special Edit Version
| writer9         = {{hlist|Harris|Davis|Boyd|Toby|Hemingway}}
| extra9          = Dre & Vidal
| length9         = 3:10

| title18         = [[My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)|My Boo]]
| note18          = Duet with [[Alicia Keys]]
| writer18        = {{hlist|Dupri|[[Manuel Seal]]|[[Adonis Shropshire]]|Raymond|Keys}}
| extra18         = {{hlist|Dupri|Seal{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length18        = 3:43

| title19         = Red Light
| writer19        = {{hlist|J. Smith|Garrett|P. Smith|[[Keri Hilson]]|Robert McDowell}}
| extra19         = {{hlist|Lil Jon|Garrett{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length19        = 4:48

| title20         = Seduction
| writer20        = {{hlist|Harris III|Lewis|Raymond|B. Avila|I. Avila|James Q. Wright}}
| extra20         = {{hlist|Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis|Bobby Ross Avila & IZ{{ref|b|[b]}}|Wright{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length20        = 4:33

| title21         = Confessions Part II
| note21          = Remix) (featuring [[Shyne]], [[Kanye West]] and [[Twista]]
| writer21        = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox|Raymond|[[Shyne|Moses Barrow]]|West|[[Twista|Carl Mitchell]]}}
| extra21         = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length21        = 4:28
}}

'''Notes'''
*<sup>{{note|a|[a]}}</sup> signifies a vocal producer.
*<sup>{{note|b|[b]}}</sup> signifies a co-producer.
'''Sample credits'''
*"Throwback" contains a sample of [[Dionne Warwick]]'s song "You're Gonna Need Me" (1973)
*"Superstar" contains a sample of [[Willie Hutch]]'s song "Mack's Stroll/The Getaway (Chase Scene)" (1973).
*"Take Your Hand" contains a sample of [[Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes]]'s song "Is There a Place for Me?" (1973).
*"Whatever I Want" contains excerpts from [[Preston Love]]'s "Chili Mac".

==Personnel==
Credits for ''Confessions'' adapted from [[AllMusic]] and album's liner notes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Confessions: Usher |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r681098/credits |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation |access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title= Confessions |year= 2004 |type= booklet |publisher= [[Arista Records|Arista]]}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Darcy Aldridge – backing vocals (track 11)
* [[The Avila Brothers|Bobby Ross Avila]] – co-producer (tracks 10–13, 20); guitar (tracks 10–12); keyboards (tracks 11–13); piano (tracks 11, 20); backing vocals (track 11); additional drum programming (track 12); [[Moog Taurus]] (track 13); flute (track 20); Wurlitzer, scratches, and strings (track 10)
* Dante "Destro" Barton – producer and additional engineering (track 12)
* [[Poo Bear|Jason Boyd]] – vocal producer (tracks 7, 9, 17)
* Valdez Brantley – producer (track 8)
* [[Bryan-Michael Cox]] – co-producer (tracks 4–6, 15, 21)
* Larry Cox – additional keyboards (track 14)
* Vincent Creusot – additional recording assistant (track 18)
* Ian Cross – engineer (track 10), additional engineering (track 21)
* Kevin "KD" Davis – engineer (track 16)
* [[Dre & Vidal|Vidal Davis]] – producer (tracks 7, 9, 17), mixing (tracks 7, 9)
* Vince DiLorenzo – engineer (track 7, 9, 17)
* [[Jermaine Dupri]] – producer (tracks 4–6, 15, 18, 21), mixing (tracks 4–6, 18, 21)
* E Bass – guitar (track 3)
* Blake Eisman – engineer (track 3, 19)
* [[Faith Evans]] – additional backing vocals (track 9)
* Brian Frye – engineer (tracks 4–6, 15, 18, 21)
* John Frye – mixing (tracks 2, 19)
* [[Richard Furch]] – mixing
* [[Sean Garrett]] – vocal producer (tracks 2, 10), backing vocals (track 2)
* [[Serban Ghenea]] – mixing (tracks 10–13, 17, 20)
* John Hanes – additional Pro Tools engineer (tracks 10–13, 17, 20)
* [[Andre Harris]] – producer (tracks 7, 9, 17), mixing (tracks 7, 9)
* [[Rich Harrison]] – producer and instrumentation (track 16)
* Delicia Hassan – production coordination (track 2)
* John Horesco IV – engineer (tracks 4, 5, 21), mixing assistant (tracks 4–6, 15, 18, 21)
* Jun Ishizeki – additional engineering (track 21)
* [[The Avila Brothers|IZ]] – co-producer and percussion (tracks 10–13, 20), drums (tracks 10, 11, 13, 20), bass (tracks 10, 13), guitar (tracks 10, 20), scratches (tracks 10, 12), [[Moog Taurus]] (track 10), keyboards (track 13)
* [[Jadakiss]] – rap (track 3)
* [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis|Jimmy Jam]] – producer (tracks 10–13, 20), Fender Rhodes (track 11)
* LaMarquis Jefferson – bass (tracks 2, 9)
* [[Just Blaze]] – producer (track 3)
* [[Alicia Keys]] – vocals (track 18)
* [[LRoc|L-Roc]] – additional keyboards (track 2)
* James Lackey – producer (track 1)
* Ken Lewis – engineer, mixing, and guitar (track 3)
* [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis|Terry Lewis]] – producer (tracks 10–13, 20)
* Kelly "Dread" Liebelt – additional engineering (track 9)
* Craig Love – guitar (track 19)
* [[Ludacris]] – rap (track 2)
* Kevin Mahoney – additional engineering (track 21)
* [[Anthony Mandler]] – photography
* Daniel Marino – guitar (track 12)
* Matt Marrin – engineer (tracks 10–13, 20)
* [[Manny Marroquin]] – mixing (track 14)
* [[Tony Maserati]] – mixing (track 16)
* [[Ann Mincieli]] – additional engineering (track 18)
* Tadd Mingo – assistant engineer (tracks 4–6, 15, 18, 21)
* Johnny "Natural" Najera – producer (track 8)
* [[Paula Patton]] – backing vocals (track 14)
* Herb Powers – mastering
* Pro J – producer and instrumentation (track 14)
* Edward Quesada – assistant engineer (track 4)
* Mickael Rangeard – additional engineering (track 18)
* [[Usher (musician)|Usher Raymond]] – executive producer, producer (tracks 1, 4, 8), lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 2, 10–14, 19, 20)
* Tim Roberts – mixing assistant (tracks 10–13, 17, 20)
* Donnie Scantz – engineer (track 2)
* [[Manuel Seal]] – co-producer (track 18)
* [[Shyne]] – rap (track 21)
* Jon Smeltz – mixing (tracks 7, 9)
* Jan Smith – vocal producer, vocal coach
* [[Lil Jon|Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith]] – producer and mixing (track 2, 19), additional backing vocals (track 2)
* Aaron Spears – producer (track 8)
* Chris Steinmetz – additional engineering (track 21)
* Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart – backing vocals (track 13)
* Arthur "Buddy" Strong – producer (track 8)
* Sean Tallman – assistant engineer (track 2)
* [[Phil Tan]] – mixing (tracks 4–6, 15, 18, 21)
* [[Robin Thicke]] – producer and instrumentation (track 14)
* [[Ryan Toby]] – vocal producer (tracks 7, 9, 17)
* Tony "Proof" Tolbert – backing vocals (tracks 10, 12, 20)
* [[Twista]] – rap (track 21)
* Mark Vinten – engineer (tracks 2, 19)
* D.L. Warfield – layout design
* [[Kanye West]] – rap (track 21)
* Ryan West – engineer (track 3)
* Doug Wilson – (track 21)
* [[Stevie Wonder]] – harmonica (track 4)
* Ghian Wright – assistant engineer (track 10)
* [[Sounds of Blackness|James "Big Jim" Wright]] – co-producer (tracks 13, 20), bass (tracks 11, 20), Wurlitzer (track 13), keyboards (track 20)
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Confessions''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2004–2005)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue800.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222429/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050720-0000/issue800.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-02-22|title=ARIA Urban Albums Chart – Week Commencing 27th June 2005 |journal=The ARIA Report|issue=800|date=June 27, 2003|access-date=April 15, 2023|via=National Library of Australia}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
|1
|-
{{album chart|Austria|25|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|10|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020|refname="ultratop.be-EN"}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|7|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums ([[Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|title=R&B : Top 50|website=[[Jam!]]|date=July 29, 2004|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803080053/http://www.canoe.com:80/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|archive-date=August 3, 2004}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{album chart|Denmark|10|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|3|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[European Top 100 Albums|European Albums]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KhAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=43|access-date=July 10, 2022|title=Hits of the World - Eurochart - Albums|date=April 10, 2004}}</ref>
|4
|-
{{album chart|Finland|20|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|France|4|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany|2|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|id=4903|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2021}}
|-
! scope="row"| Greek Albums ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.gr:80/chart01.htm|title=Ελληνικό Chart – Top 50 Ξένων Αλμπουμ|publisher=[[IFPI Greece]]|language=el|access-date=March 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040605194410/http://www.ifpi.gr:80/chart01.htm|archive-date=June 5, 2004|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 10
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|40|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|year=2004|week=21|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2022}}
|-
!scope="row"|Irish Albums ([[Irish Albums Chart|IRMA]])<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120528000930/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2004&year=2004&week=28 "GFK Chart-Track: TOP 75 ARTIST ALBUM, WEEK ENDING July 8, 2004"] . GFK Chart-Track. [[Irish Recorded Music Association]]. Retrieved on 2010-04-02.</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{album chart|Italy|34|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/33681/products/538499/1/|title=コンフェッションズ {{!}} アッシャー|trans-title=Confessions {{!}} Usher|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=March 19, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117011919/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/33681/products/538499/1/|archive-date=January 17, 2023}}</ref>
| 10
|-
!scope="row"|Malaysian International Albums ([[Recording Industry Association of Malaysia|RIM]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rim.org.my/|title=Malaysia Retail Sales Chart - International Chart - Weekending: 28th December 2004|access-date=November 14, 2023|archive-date=March 3, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050303091414/http://www.rim.org.my/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 14
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Poland|35|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|id=203|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|5|artist=Usher|date=March 28, 2004|access-date=June 18, 2013|rowheader=true|refname=scotlandchart}}
|-
!scope="row"|South African Albums ([[Recording Industry of South Africa|RISA]])<ref>{{cite web|url-status=dead|url=http://www.rsgmusiek.co.za/top20.asp|title=	
Suid-Afrika se enigste amptelike Top 20 is eksklusief aan RSG|publisher=[[Recording Industry of South Africa]]|access-date=April 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810092445/http://www.rsgmusiek.co.za:80/top20.asp|archive-date=August 10, 2004}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{album chart|Spain|60|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|11|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Usher|album=Confessions|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"|Taiwanese Albums ([[G-Music|Five Music]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.5music.com.tw/billboard.asp|title=Taiwan 48/2004 |language=Chinese |publisher=Five-Music |accessdate=August 2, 2024 }}</ref>
| 12
|-
{{album chart|UK|1|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|UKR&B|1|date=20040328|rowheader=true|access-date=October 14, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Usher|rowheader=true|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Annual chart performance for ''Confessions''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2004)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name=australianyearend2004>{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2004.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2004 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten 2004 – Albums|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2004&cat=a|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|29
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten 2004 – Albums|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2004&cat=a|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|59
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2004|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2004&cat=a|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=July 7, 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2004|title=Top de l'année Top Albums 2004|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|40
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2004|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2004|language=de|publisher=Offizielle Deutsche Charts|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2004-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 2004 |publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]] |access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref>
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20010001&navi=no|title=Årslista Album – År 2001|language=sv|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|access-date=July 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163818/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20040001&navi=no|archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|63
|-
! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2004|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2004|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=July 7, 2020|language=de}}</ref>

|style="text-align:center;"|14
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2004.pdf |title=UK Year-End Charts 2004 |work=[[UKChartsPlus]] |access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2004/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-06-21}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2004/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
! scope="row"| Worldwide Albums ([[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top50-2004.pdf |title=Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2004 |publisher=[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117003944/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/top50-2004.pdf |archive-date=November 17, 2008}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2005)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name=australianyearend2005>{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2005.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2005 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|56
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2005&cat=a|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=July 7, 2020|language=nl}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|55
|-
! scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2005|title=Top de l'année Top Albums 2005|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|84
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2005.pdf |title=UK Year-End Charts 2005 |work=[[UKChartsPlus]] |access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|90
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2005/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2005|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
!scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2005/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2005|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2023)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=November 23, 2023}}</ref>
| 181
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2024)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
| 135
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 1, 2025}}</ref>
| 72
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Decade-end chart performance for ''Confessions''
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2000–2009)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA end of Decade">{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2000/end-of-decade-albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums of the 00's|publisher=ARIA|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|91
|-
!scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Noughties' Official UK Albums Chart Top 100 |periodical=[[Music Week]] |publisher=[[UBM plc|United Business Media]] |location=London, England |page=19 |date=January 30, 2010}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|72
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2009/BB-2009-12-19.pdf|title=The Decade in Music - Charts - Top Billboard 200 Albums|date=December 19, 2009|via=World Radio History|magazine=Billboard|page=162|access-date=August 31, 2021}} ''Digit page 166 on the PDF archive.''</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Confessions''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2018|relyear=2004|access-date=November 12, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=December 27, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Usher|title=Confessions|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2020|id=8966|access-date=February 18, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2004}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|relyear=2004|type=album|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2004}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=コンフェッションズ|artist=アッシャー|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|certmonth=10}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|relyear=2004|award=Gold|id=1238020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.co.nz/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208203812/http://www.radioscope.co.nz:80/|archive-date=February 8, 2005|title=Certifications|access-date=August 12, 2023|publisher=radioscope.co.nz|language=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=May 20, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|relyear=2004|type=album|award=Gold|certyear=2020|accessdate=November 24, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=Confession|artist=Usher|relyear=2004|type=album|award=Platinum}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=5|salesamount=1,536,714|salesref=<ref name="uk sales">{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-bastille-hold-on-to-albums-chart-top-spot/066042|title=Official Charts Analysis: Bastille hold on to albums chart top spot|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=September 23, 2016|work=[[Music Week]]|publisher=Intent Media|access-date=September 26, 2016|url-access=subscription }}</ref>|id=1493-1290-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=14|salesamount=|salesref=|certyear=2024}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|title=Confessions|artist=Usher|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2005}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==See also==
* [[List of best-selling albums]]
* [[List of best-selling albums in the United States]]
* [[Truth Tour]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|type=album|136803|name=Confessions}}

{{Usher}}
{{Usher singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Confessions''
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album}}
}}
{{Billboard Year-End number one albums 1990–2009}}
{{IFPI Global Year-End}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 albums]]
[[Category:LaFace Records albums]]
[[Category:Arista Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Bryan-Michael Cox]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Dre & Vidal]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jermaine Dupri]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Just Blaze]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Lil Jon]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rich Harrison]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Robin Thicke]]
[[Category:Usher (musician) albums]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album]]